Mr. Abul Kalam AzadChairman & Managing Director, Azad Products LimitedBangladesh

BUS 662-001 - Fall 2011: Entrepreneurship

Azad Products Ltd. was the “Hallmark” of gift card and poster manufacturers in the mass market during the 70s and 80s in Bangladesh.

Mr. Azad was born in a poor family and in his early years depended on trading fruits to make his earnings.

The desire to start his own business brought him to the capital, Dhaka city.

He earned a meager living as a lodging tutor and used his free time to wander through the city looking for business ideas.

His encounter with street hawkers gave him the idea of selling posters.

The trade experience helped him gain an edge in terms of price and volume which soon attracted jealousy from the competition.

However such drawbacks did not dampen his spirit and he continued to push his business forward.

Today Mr. Abul Kalam Azad is heading large corporations like Azad Printing and Packaging, Grand Azad Hotel and AtoZ Computers.